For a sneak peek into some home design elements trending for 2020, we talked with one of our go-to designers, Robin Decoteau, senior kitchen and bath designer at Kitchen & Bath Gallery in West Yarmouth; and with Jami Supsic, home director for HGTV Magazine in New York …
The 5th annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival is upon us, and whether you’re an aficionado, an apprentice, or simply an admirer, here’s how the 10-day celebration of the Cape’s most beloved flower works. We also harvested some advice from experts (spoiler alert: proper pruning)
READ MORE … https://www.barnstablepatriot.com/news/20190705/hydrangea-festival-kicks-off-tonight-at-cape-cod-beer
It’s that time of year again – the birds are chirping, the weather is getting warmer, and we assess the winter wear and tear on our homes. In particular, our roofs.
Though we were lucky this year with not much snow (knock on wood), rain and wind are always a consideration. We talked with D3 Builders Inc., with offices in West Barnstable, Mashpee and Yarmouth, about the ups and downs of roof repair and replacement … READ MORE: https://www.barnstablepatriot.com/news/20190416/staying-on-top-of-roof-repairs-with-d3-builders-inc
With thousands of options at a click, people are more educated about home remodeling than ever before.
To gain some insight into what’s been trending in 2018, we talked with Irina MacPhee of Pastiche of Cape Cod Interior Design, Craig Riley of CJ Riley Builder, Inc., and Mark Bogosian of Longfellow Design Build. We learned that, these days, people want hi-tech and convenience, and that their design choices reflect their personal styles more than ever.
Technologically inclined
Irina MacPhee, owner/principal, Pastiche of Cape Cod Interior Design & Custom Kitchens
MacPhee specializes in transforming people’s living spaces, and she said that while designing interiors has always inherently been about personal style, she’s seen an increase in “personalization.” She said that people are increasingly into hi-tech and seek custom solutions to fit their new tastes, such as smart technology.
“All the lights and technology in your home can be personalized and put on your iPhone or iPad, and you can be in control of your home from wherever you are,” she said.
When it comes to the kitchen, MacPhee said it’s all about convenience.
“People don’t want to just replace things. They want solutions,” she said. MacPhee said she’s seen an increase in technology in the kitchen, with appliances such as the German-made steam oven that lets you program personalized meal plans. Large kitchen islands may also have built-in extras, like seats.
“More convenient” and “less fussy” are the trends, she said, which is also true of the color palettes people are choosing. Clean lines are in, and while classic neutral palettes of black, white, and grays will never go out of style, people are incorporating splashes of color, leaning toward their personal tastes.
Pastiche of Cape Cod
8 South St., Dennis Port
508-362-8006
www.pasticheofcapecod.com
Ultra-organization
Craig Riley, owner, CJ Riley Builder Inc.
Riley specializes in new construction and remodeling in the seven villages of Barnstable, and he said that one thing that’s trending more today than ever is that people are selling their off-Cape homes and making the permanent move to the Cape, either purchasing a home or remodeling their summer homes.
Riley said that when it comes to remodeling, people want comfort and convenience, utilizing the latest in style and technology — organization and hi-tech are what’s hot.
He said that in the kitchen, it’s all about ultra-organization.
“It’s no longer just putting things on shelves,” he said.
He added that today’s kitchens are about making maximum use of space, and that in most kitchens, the focal point is the oven, with spaces designed around it. Technology such as soft-open-and-close cabinets is increasingly popular, as well as touch faucets. For countertops, granite remains popular, but people are moving toward quartz, and Riley said that options abound.
“There are so many different types of sial stone you can use,” he said.
Finished basements are also becoming more popular, said Riley, in regards to making maximum use of space for comfort and personal style. Color palettes are remaining neutral, he said.
CJ Riley Builder, Inc.
749 Main St., Osterville
508-428-6376
www.cjriley.com
Quality spaces
Mark Bogosian, owner, Longfellow Design Build
More and more people from the Greater Boston Area are building second homes on the Cape, according to Mark Bogosian, owner of Longfellow Design Build, with offices in Falmouth, Osterville, and Chatham.
“It’s increasingly about spending high-quality time in high-quality spaces,” said Bogosian. He said that while the open floor plan has been around for some time, it seems to be more integrated than ever, with custom built-ins such as sitting areas and window seats.
Large kitchen islands also have more custom built-ins, such as wine and beverage coolers and microwaves, for a “hidden and clean” look. Quartz countertops are on the rise. So are pendant lamps that hang from the ceiling and come in a wide variety of styles. These extra touches personalize the space.
“Every house has a different style, and touches like these are like the punctuation. They signify the house’s style,” said Bogosian. The elegance is in the details, he said, and custom millwork on molding and trim has been on the rise. Also, in houses that large enough, coffered ceilings create a very high-end look.
Longfellow Design Build
367 Main St., Falmouth
774-255-1709
578 Main St., Chatham
508-945-1710
866 Main St., Osterville
508-428-3999
www.longfellowdb.com
Barnstable Patriot, September 2018: https://www.barnstablepatriot.com/news/20180929/home-remodeling-trends-for-2018
Homeowners Sarah and Chris Hines wanted their Norwell, Massachusetts, home to be a reflection of the things that they and their kids, Olivia, 12, and Cole, 10, like to do. “They surf, they’re out on their boat, they cycle—they’re an active, free-spirited family,” says designer Maggie Jerde of Maggie Jerde Design in Norwell, who was the designer for the project along with her partner, Jamie Therrien. Situated next to Jacob’s Farm, the home, built in 1999, has an old-farmhouse feeling. In the interior design update, Jerde says the Hineses wanted to incorporate modern design elements while paying tribute to the home’s original style.
The white ultramodern handmade porcelain subway tiles with a crackle finish reach all the way to the ceiling. “On each side of the sink, we put floating shelves for the everyday ‘china’,” says Jerde. Pictured is blue-swirled “Strata” dinnerware from Anthropologie.
The oak kitchen island has a cerused finish that highlights the natural grain of the wood.
“When I started the project, the first thing that hit me was the staircase,” says Jerde. “It’s right in the middle of the house, but the rest of the house is an open floor plan. I needed to treat these stairs special, otherwise they’re an intrusion.” Jerde says they decided to wrap the stairs in white shiplap. “It made quite a difference to the whole house.” The staircase boasts an antelope-print runner, and hanging on the wall at the top of the stairs is a complementing art piece reading SURF, from Bodega Nantucket.
“The powder room had existing bead board,” says Jerde. “I knew I wanted to walk the line between farmhouse and modern, so we made the walls white but painted the bead board a mushroom color,”she says. The floors are a hydrangea blue-purple penny tile, which is a typical farmhouse style, says Jerde. The tiger print adds an unexpected accent.
Even the mudroom sports modern elements. The floor has black-and-white tiles whose pattern is similar to that in the kitchen backsplash. “You see both patterns at the same time, and we didn’t want them to compete,” says Jerde. The vibrant blue cabinets have brass hardware, and a ceiling fixture brings out the different shades of blue.
In keeping with the color scheme, more muted blues and grays distinguish the family room. Striking blue ceramic stools from Shop Candelabra add a splash of color in the console area between the kitchen and the family room. “We needed to keep that space open yet we wanted a design element there,” says Jerde.
For the family room, Jerde chose an oriental rug from Caitlin Wilson and paired it with a lucite-and-brass coffee table from Jayson Home. Throw pillows on the couch are by Susan Connor and Rebecca Atwood, both based in Brooklyn.
“This was the first time I ever worked with a designer,” says Sarah Hines. “I thought it would be overwhelming, but Maggie made it fun and comfortable and really offered a greater perspective.”
New England Living, March 2018: https://newenglandliving.tv/traditional-farmhouse-style-meets-modern-flair/
Designers have seen a wave of blue kitchen islands making a splash across New England, and the trend is here to stay, according to Julie Lyons, senior residential designer at Roomscapes Cabinetry and Design Center in Rockland, Massachusetts. Lyons says that blue islands have been trending for about three years. “People are starting to move away from greys and more conservative colors,” she says. Designers are seeing the trend in both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs, using a broad spectrum of blues against the backdrop of a mostly white kitchen.
A home in Portland, Maine, designed by Heidi Lachapelle. Photograph by Erin Little
“While the color navy is not so much a trend, it is a trend to include it in a kitchen island,” says Lyons. “When you think of a stark white kitchen, a bold color like navy in an island is very contemporary.” Lyons says that traditional blues are the softer, more muted tones such as Benjamin Moore’s Buxton Blue, Whipple Blue or Yarmouth Blue. “Those are part the Historical Collection, colors taken right out of homes in Williamsburg,” says Lyons. Contemporary colors are the bold saturated blues, including Blue Lapis and Starry Night Blue.
Lyons, who studied interior design at Boston Architectural College, says when choosing kitchen colors, it’s important to decide on the countertop first. “Once you’ve made that decision, you can coordinate.” For example, Azul Aran is an Italian granite that has blues and browns in it, according to Lyons. “You can pull the shade of blue from the granite,” she says. She adds that the other element to take into consideration is the floor, and that lighter floors such as white oak work well with colored islands.
When it comes to blue kitchen islands, Lyons says there’s no norm. “It really comes down to personal taste. That’s the fun of it,” she says. —Marina Davalos
Lyons matched a Steel Blue paint chip for the island in this project, which was a collaboration with MacKenzie Brothers. Photograph by Dan Cutrona
New England Living, November 2017: https://newenglandliving.tv/a-splash-of-color-in-the-kitchen/
New England Living, June 13, 2017
The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017, Greenery, comes to us with a promise of renewal and rejuvenation. Just saying the name evokes images of spring, the outdoors and new beginnings. Indeed, this verdant shade was selected for its implications in bringing forth feelings of promise, hope and renewal, according to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute. Eiseman is none other than the woman in charge of choosing the color of the year.
How is the color of the year chosen?
“We look at lots of indicators,” says Eiseman. “We’re at tradeshows worldwide, and we look at what we think are ascending colors.” These are what color forecasting groups look for in terms of what’s hot. “The fashion industry is always a big indicator,” Eiseman adds, noting that greens have been growing in popularity over the last year. Other indicators are signage, brand image, even stage lighting, in industries such as arts and entertainment. “We look for the symbolic meaning of color, and the fact that Greenery has been on the rise indicates a general feeling of ‘going green,’ or nature, or that of ‘fresh.’”
Judith van Vliet of the Color Marketing Group (CMG) agrees. “CMG’s collaborative color tribe had predicated and announced at the 2015 San Diego International Summit how important green would be for 2017, so we were not surprised by Greenery,” she says. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, CMG is a nonprofit color forecasting association that focuses on color trends in four global areas: North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
According to CMG’s executive director, Sharon Griffis, CMG holds color forecasting events throughout the year in global locations. Participants from all industries discuss color trends and influences and how these will impact color directions. The results from these events are curated by CMG members to form CMG’s World Color Forecast™ which is revealed annually at the International Summit. The World Color Forecast™ comprises 16 colors from each region that CMG members believe will trend two years out.
So what does all this mean for interior design in New England? That, according to Nina Farmer of Boston-based Nina Farmer Interiors, ultimately comes down to the client’s own personal taste. “It’s always interesting to me to see where color choices are going. But ultimately, it’s up to my client what they want to surround themselves with.” She adds that her Boston clients are more apt to decorate with classic colors than the “hottest new thing.” With many greens such as emerald and hunter green being on the “classic” side, Farmer can see Greenery being used as an uplifting accent color.
Connecticut-based interior designer Lynn Morgan of Lynn Morgan Design echoes Farmer’s sentiments. “It can be a great accent color to those classic greens and blues,” she says. She’s enthusiastic about Pantone’s choice of Greenery. “It’s fresh and new, and it speaks to everyone, whether it be about being outdoors, gardening or ‘going green.’” Color of the year or not, Morgan says that she happens to like Greenery, and has used it often in creating styles with splashes of color, pairing it with blues, whites and creams.
“We look to the symbolic meaning of color,” Pantone’s Eiseman says. “Greenery, again, is symbolic of nature.
It’s fresh, it’s being outdoors at a park. If a person can’t get out too often, for instance, they can bring Greenery into the home.” Splashes of color add a touch of brightness and inspiration for 2017.
“Green stands for a refreshing new start,” concurs CMG’s van Vliet. “Maybe we have finally arrived to this tipping point and real change is at the horizon.”
Written by Marina Davalos
